Get started

Get started

Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.

• 5 steps to create a coronavirus crisis management response plan

  The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a wrench into many traditional BCDR plans. Here are five tips to update your crisis response plans and help your business weather the storm. Continue Reading

• 12 key elements of a crisis management plan

  Starting or revising your crisis management planning? Include these elements in a plan to make sure you don't leave anything out and your organization can run effectively. Continue Reading

• How has backup as a service evolved and improved?

  The backup-as-a-service platform is a popular use of cloud-based infrastructure. With new products and features launching, it's important to plan out your BaaS environment. Continue Reading

• Achieving backup compliance among CCPA and other regulations

  The recently enacted CCPA is just one of many current and potential regulations that backup administrators need to understand. Here are a few guidelines for staying compliant. Continue Reading

• Top embedded analytics examples in enterprise applications

  Embedded analytics has been trending for ease of use and accessibility for users. Here are the top use cases for these tools in enterprise applications. Continue Reading

• Definitions to Get Started

  • What is data visualization?
  • What is customer data integration (CDI)?
  • What is data restoration?
  • What is data analytics (DA)?

  • What is a backup storage device?
  • What is off-site backup?
  • What is an entity relationship diagram (ERD)?
  • What is data as a service (DaaS)?

  View All Definitions

• 5 important Docker container backup best practices

  With container storage a major trend, it's important to ensure data protection. These five guidelines will help you properly back up Docker containers.Continue Reading

• Tips for updating your corporate pandemic response plan

  To ensure your workplace pandemic response plan is up-to-date and sufficient, check it against other business continuity procedures, and consult important sources for further guidance.Continue Reading

• Embedded BI software creates common ground for diverse analytics

  Learn how embedding separate business intelligence capabilities into one application empowers users to drill down, access and analyze data without opening a separate tool.Continue Reading

• How to handle data management in the cloud

  Managing data in the cloud can result in cost and management complexities. But you can also use the technology to get a deeper understanding of your data.Continue Reading

• What is Extract, Load, Transform (ELT)?

  Extract, Load, Transform (ELT) is a data integration process for transferring raw data from a source server to a data system (such as a data warehouse or data lake) on a target server and then preparing the information for downstream uses.Continue Reading

• Create a cost-efficient data backup plan that's also reliable

  A well-designed backup strategy saves both data and money. Here's how to build a backup plan that meets both goals so you can be confident in your data protection.Continue Reading

• How to build and train organizational resilience teams

  Well-trained resilience and emergency response teams are a key element of maintaining business continuity and recovering your organization when disaster strikes.Continue Reading

• Data warehousing design and value change with the times

  Big data, the cloud and analytics profoundly shape data warehouse purpose and design. Learn how companies derive value from a repository that at times needs definition.Continue Reading

• Tips for outsourcing business resilience services

  Outsourcing IT resilience is more feasible than ever, thanks to a rise in cloud-based options. If you plan on outsourcing resilience to a third party, be sure to do your homework.Continue Reading

• Top 5 disaster recovery and planning questions asked in 2019

  What were your top DR planning questions in 2019? While the cloud seems top of mind every year, newer trends like blockchain and orchestration also made the list.Continue Reading

• Data scientist vs. data analyst: What's the difference?

  Data scientists and data analysts have a lot of crossover in their roles, but they're certainly not the same. Here's a look at some key differences in the positions.Continue Reading

• Create an effective data backup strategy from scratch

  You can't reliably protect your organization's valuable data without having a solid data backup plan in place. Here's what to include when you start building your strategy.Continue Reading

• Data replication technologies: What they are and how to use them

  Data replication can play a big role in a disaster recovery plan, so make sure you're familiar with the different types of replication and where they work best.Continue Reading

• NLP uses in BI and analytics speak softly but carry a big stick

  Self-service analytics vendors are adding NLP features to their tools to make them even easier to use. Learn about notable NLP applications as well as some caveats.Continue Reading

• Top 10 backup tips for your natural disaster recovery plan checklist

  Your natural disaster recovery plan checklist needs the right data backup procedures. Here are 10 guidelines that can help save your data in the event of a disaster.Continue Reading

• How can your IT resilience plan incorporate big data analytics?

  Big data analytics can help businesses spot past mistakes, forecast conditions and improve future strategies. So, why should resilience planning be any different?Continue Reading

• Third-party database tools boast attractive alternatives

  For companies considering third-party database tools, this handbook provides expert advice on evaluating and deploying on-premises and cloud options from third parties.Continue Reading

• SaaS data backup challenges and best practices

  The protection offered by a SaaS provider for your important customer data can be minimal, so it's crucial for organizations to back up SaaS data on their own.Continue Reading

• What is database normalization?

  Database normalization is intrinsic to most relational database schemes. It is a process that organizes data into tables so that results are always unambiguous.Continue Reading

• T-SQL (Transact-SQL)

  T-SQL (Transact-SQL) is a set of programming extensions from Sybase and Microsoft that add several features to the Structured Query Language (SQL), including transaction control, exception and error handling, row processing and declared variables.Continue Reading

• Ethical data mining and analytics elude privacy, usage snafus

  This handbook examines the ethics of data mining and offers advice on missteps to avoid when mining and analyzing customer data to help drive marketing campaigns.Continue Reading

• PowerShell backup scripts: What are 3 essential best practices?

  There are some strong PowerShell scripts that can provide backup capabilities. It's important, though, to be mindful of PowerShell's quirks so you get the best data protection.Continue Reading

• What are Google G Suite backup best practices?

  Is your Google data protected? Make sure you are backing up G Suite files, because Google doesn't provide the comprehensive protection you'll need to be safe.Continue Reading

• What DR requirements belong in a cloud computing SLA?

  Many organizations are making the move to DRaaS. But, before you dive in, be sure the cloud provider's SLA meets the needs of your business and its end users.Continue Reading

• SQL Server database design best practices and tips for DBAs

  Good database design is a must to meet processing needs in SQL Server systems. In a webinar, consultant Koen Verbeeck offered advice on how to make that happen.Continue Reading

• Test your multi-cloud disaster recovery expertise

  Multi-cloud DR is growing in popularity as a reliable recovery strategy in businesses of all sizes. Put your knowledge of multi-cloud DR to the test with this quiz.Continue Reading

• How can I integrate cybersecurity and backup planning?

  Your organization should integrate its cybersecurity and backup processes. It's easy for a cyberattack to affect backups, unfortunately, so be proactive about it.Continue Reading

• How to protect data in the cloud

  Take a look at three backup methods -- on premises, cloud to local and cloud to cloud -- and find out the pros, cons and cost of each.Continue Reading

• 6 best practices for choosing a cloud backup provider

  Learn six criteria for choosing the best cloud backup vendor for your organization. Key among these is knowing your unique needs.Continue Reading

• What is a business resilience plan and why do you need one?

  Just like business continuity has become indispensable, having an IT resilience plan in place is crucial to keeping your business up and running today.Continue Reading

• Big data containers gain wider appeal in system deployments

  This handbook examines the use of Docker containers in Kubernetes clusters to run big data systems and offers insight on container deployment and management issues.Continue Reading

• Data virtualization tools promote anywhere, anytime data access

  This online handbook examines data virtualization software and how organizations are deploying and using the technology as part of their data integration processes.Continue Reading

• Know your disaster recovery-as-a-service options and benefits

  Get expert guidance on DRaaS options, how to evaluate potential DRaaS providers and the advantages of moving your disaster recovery operations to the cloud.Continue Reading

• Using the cloud for disaster recovery? You'll need these key terms

  If you're planning on implementing a cloud-based disaster recovery plan, be sure to familiarize yourself with core aspects of crafting a cloud DR plan and choosing a provider.Continue Reading

• Natural disaster recovery planning: 4 frequently asked questions

  When crafting a disaster recovery plan, don't rule out natural disasters as a major threat. Don't let a storm catch you off guard after making your recovery preparations.Continue Reading

• Check SQL Server Query Store performance impact before using

  Many IT teams hesitate to use SQL Server Query Store due to performance concerns. Consultant Andy Warren offers tips on how to test and get started with Query Store.Continue Reading

• Advice on enterprise data cleansing from an SAP VP

  SAP's Kristin McMahon details data cleansing best practices and explains why a good data cleanse needs continual communication, collaboration and oversight.Continue Reading

• 3-2-1: Get started with a multi-cloud backup plan

  Multi-cloud data backup is taking off as organizations seek ways to further protect their workloads. With many threats out there, it's important to have data backed up off-site.Continue Reading

• Data model design tips to help standardize business data

  Data models should be understandable to business users and kept to a reasonable scope, say the leaders of a data modeling initiative at England's Environment Agency.Continue Reading

• How to plan for the worst possible disaster recovery scenarios

  Your worst-case DR scenario today might be vastly different than it was just a few years ago. What's the worst that could happen to your data center in the event of a disaster?Continue Reading

• What is a good backup test frequency?

  You should align your backup testing with the frequency of backups. This way, IT assets will not only be backed up, but also validated as ready for use in an emergency.Continue Reading

• NetSuite

  NetSuite is a business technology vendor based in San Mateo, California.Continue Reading

• How to integrate Power BI and SharePoint via embedded reports

  Expert Brien Posey explains two methods for including Power BI reports on pages in SharePoint Online's cloud service: publishing a link to a report, or embedding one.Continue Reading

• Data-rich organizations turn focus to ethical data mining

  As data analytics has increasingly become a core component of organizations' strategies, concerns have arisen around how data is mined. Experts offer tips.Continue Reading

• USAA adds data engineering skills to speed data science work

  When the United Services Automobile Association's data science team wasn't getting data in the right format, the team lead realized the USAA needed more data engineers.Continue Reading

• Qlik Research head talks Associative Engine, NLP and Data Swarm

  Elif Tutuk, research head at Qlik, discusses projects her team is working on -- including a smarter Associative Engine, multi-attribute visualizations and NLP.Continue Reading

• 5 things to know about deploying big data systems in data containers

  Planning for security and container APIs, and watching out for infrastructure sprawls are some issues to be aware of before deploying big data in containers.Continue Reading

• object-oriented database management system (OODBMS)

  An object-oriented database management system (OODBMS), sometimes shortened to ODBMS for object database management system, is a database management system (DBMS) that supports the modelling and creation of data as objects.Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery planning checklist: Put your team to the test

  With all of the planning that disaster recovery takes, it's easy to overlook the basics. Ensure that your DR team isn't skipping over internal issues, like staffing and security.Continue Reading

• Secure disaster recovery will be a priority in 2019

  Along with weather events and IT outages, data security has become a major concern in DR. With cyberattacks on the rise, strategists are placing higher importance on resilience.Continue Reading

• How do I decide when to deduplicate data and where?

  On its surface, data deduplication is a positive because it deletes redundant data. Use the technology carefully, but at the right moment for the best results.Continue Reading

• DataOps is more than DevOps for data, Delphix CTO says

  Data operations is young compared to DevOps, but it is increasingly used as part of projects that put data at the center of development. Here, Delphix CTO Eric Schrock makes observations about the trend.Continue Reading

• Avoid turbulence when shifting to data analytics in the cloud

  When migrating BI and data analytics to the cloud, factor existing analytics processes, software evaluation, data protection and cost controls into a thoughtful plan of action.Continue Reading

• How to determine your disaster recovery objectives

  Ideal recovery objectives are different for every business. Luckily, there are four basic steps you can follow to ensure you set the right RTO and RPO.Continue Reading

• DRaaS benefits that make ditching traditional DR worth it

  The benefits of disaster recovery as a service include lower cost, enhanced reliability and streamlined administration. It's no wonder that more organizations are being drawn to it.Continue Reading

• 4 key qualities in a disaster recovery team consultant

  An experienced and reliable disaster recovery consultant can offer significant benefits to a DR team. When choosing a DR consultant, it helps to be picky.Continue Reading

• BC/DR plan template: How to prepare for an active shooter event

  A standard BC/DR template typically covers weather, equipment failures and fires. In recent years, more organizations are naming active shooting scenarios as a BC/DR concern.Continue Reading

• How to make a self-service BI tools deployment less painful

  Self-service BI can be a big change for everyone in an organization. Expert Rick Sherman offers three principles to keep in mind that could make things easier.Continue Reading

• Bolster citizen data scientists with support, training

  As more citizen data scientists take on work traditionally tasked to business analysts, organizations must consider how to support them. Start with a centralized data team.Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery trends and technologies to watch

  Major disaster recovery developments have changed the market yet again, and it's time to get ready for a new year in DR technology, before you end up lagging behind.Continue Reading

• How the rise of augmented analytics tools affects BI vendors

  BI vendors are responding to interest in augmented analytics capabilities with simplified interfaces and features that allow for access to deeper insights.Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery planning tools: Predictive analytics for DR

  Today, predictive analytics and AI are fully realized disaster recovery tools. In the unpredictable world of DR, predictive analytics is a particularly powerful technology.Continue Reading

• Why data literacy skills still matter with augmented analytics

  Democratizing data analytics gives everyone access to tools and information, but data literacy is still required for analyzing data and delivering successful outcomes.Continue Reading

• Tips for creating curated data sets for self-service BI users

  Data curation initiatives can help streamline BI processes by reducing the amount of time users spend locating and preparing data. Get four tips for preparing data sets.Continue Reading

• How does VMware Admission Control work?

  Get to know VMware vSphere's Admission Control tool and use it to reserve the resources necessary for VM failover with cluster resource calculations and slot policy.Continue Reading

• How does vSphere HA application monitoring work?

  Use heartbeats, VM monitoring and application monitoring to fully examine the causes of VM unresponsiveness. Adjust sensitivity levels to focus on the level of detail you need.Continue Reading

• Ensure VM high availability with vSphere DRS and HA

  Combine Distributed Resource Scheduler and vSphere High Availability to design balanced failover clusters. Pay attention to affinity rules, which can further support availability.Continue Reading

• How does vSphere high availability affect VM restart order?

  If you encounter a VM failure, you can use vSphere HA to automatically detect and restart VMs. Before you restart the VMs, you'll also need to meet resource and host criteria.Continue Reading

• Physical vs. virtual backup appliances: Make the best choice

  Organizations have a choice in backup appliances: physical or virtual. Explore what both types of appliances require and where a virtual backup appliance has an edge.Continue Reading

• 10 steps for optimal IT disaster recovery plan design

  Have you ensured your disaster recovery planning is comprehensive and able to be understood by everyone involved? Our guidelines will help set you on the right path.Continue Reading

• What's the difference between a hot site and cold site for DR?

  The hot site vs. cold site debate requires users to understand how each DR site works and the resources needed. While one is more budget-friendly, downtime can be a deciding factor.Continue Reading

• 5 FAQs on SQL Server containers and how to manage them

  Running SQL Server in containers creates new challenges for database administrators. The answers to these questions can guide you through some of them.Continue Reading

• The Power BI-PowerShell cmdlet cheat sheet

  DBAs can manage Power BI data sets, workspaces and reports with PowerShell. Using the two tools together makes for a more efficient and effective workflow.Continue Reading

• Azure Data Studio (formerly SQL Operations Studio)

  Azure Data Studio is a Microsoft tool, originally named SQL Operations Studio, for managing SQL Server databases and cloud-based Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Data Warehouse systems.Continue Reading

• 6 big data visualization project ideas and tools

  These data visualization project examples and tools illustrate how enterprises are expanding the use of "data viz" tools to get a better look at big data.Continue Reading

• How to create an emergency phone tree and template

  When disaster strikes an organization, employees must be alerted. Using a call tree in emergency situations is a time-tested way to effectively communicate events and next steps.Continue Reading

• SQL vs. NoSQL: What do you know about the database designs?

  The decision to use a SQL database or a NoSQL database can be made wisely only if the ins and outs of both are understood. See how well you know the database architectures.Continue Reading

• Azure Backup service best practices to streamline protection

  Is Azure Backup the right protection for your organization? Explore three important considerations for using the Microsoft service to back up your data.Continue Reading

• 3 best practices for backing up Office 365 data

  There are plenty of Office 365 backup providers out there, but how do you get started? For one thing, think of your cloud data as if it were on premises.Continue Reading

• 3 ways to make machine learning in business more effective

  Dun & Bradstreet analytics exec Nipa Basu offers three tips on how to integrate machine learning tools into business processes to help drive better decision-making.Continue Reading

• 11 features to look for in data quality management tools

  As the need for quality data has increased, so have the capabilities of data quality tools. Learn how collaboration, data lineage and other features enable data quality.Continue Reading

• Data backup planning: 10 best practices for protection

  A data backup plan needs to anticipate changes to the organization and possible threats. These best practices will help you tailor your plan according to your business's needs.Continue Reading

• Test your business continuity best practices knowledge

  When crafting a business continuity and disaster recovery plan, it's helpful to keep in mind some basic best practices. Don't find yourself caught off guard by getting complacent.Continue Reading

• AI for analytics augments and bolsters business intelligence

  Continue Reading

• What is an enterprise data strategy?

  Defining a data strategy can help focus an organization's data management initiatives -- but it isn't the same as data governance. Expert Anne Marie Smith explains why.Continue Reading

• How the top cloud storage vendors stack up for backup

  Don't pick a cloud storage and backup vendor just because you've heard it's reputable. We lay out the features you need to compare among the Big Three providers.Continue Reading

• GDPR and disaster recovery: How to ensure you're covered

  After all of the preparations and changes your organization has gone through to prepare for GDPR, make sure disaster recovery doesn't get swept under the rug.Continue Reading

• What's the difference between secondary and primary storage?

  Having primary storage and secondary storage is a good way to tier your workloads and ensure solid data protection. So, what should you expect from both platforms?Continue Reading

• Backup snapshots and replication supplement standard backup

  Traditional backup or data snapshot and replication technologies alone don't meet the data protection and DR needs of modern enterprises. Combine them all together and they do.Continue Reading

• 5 to-dos for your GDPR compliance checklist

  It's never too late to fine-tune your GDPR strategy. Expert Anne Marie Smith suggests a current state analysis of your PII protections, drafting a data privacy policy and more.Continue Reading

• Can an SMB business continuity strategy compete with larger firms?

  When crafting a business continuity plan, an SMB must try and meet customers' enterprise-level expectations, while using its available resources to the fullest.Continue Reading

• What standards for business continuity aid in compliance?

  Business continuity and disaster recovery compliance is a valuable asset and may require a deeper understanding of modern standards and changes your organization needs to make.Continue Reading

• 2 ways to attach SQL Server database files to Linux containers

  SQL Server files can be stored outside of Docker containers in host directories or volumes. Here's how to set up SQL Server on Linux databases and attach them to containers.Continue Reading

• What does the ISO 22330 business continuity standard cover?

  With ISO/TS 22330, the International Organization for Standardization covers the issues related to the people involved in BCDR incident response.Continue Reading

• How to attach databases to custom SQL Server containers

  Deploying SQL Server in Docker containers for production applications typically requires custom containers. Here are guidelines on how to attach databases to them.Continue Reading